I consult on content strategy and produce web content for technology companies. In 2014, I went around the USA on an 8-month roadtrip (in a bright blue RV called 3DRV) exploring 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, and 3D Design. In the past, I have put pen to paper for the Wall Street Journal, Make, Sports Afield, the Pittsburgh Business Times and many others. You can follow my work via Twitter or email me. I write about the cloud, gadgets and gear, and 3D.

3D Printing May Be The Future: Cricut Explore Is Now

Between the $29 billion DIY crafting industry and the emerging 3D printing movement, there is an opportunity to make desktop manufacturing more accessible. Currently, one could argue that it is not that accessible – 3D printers are expensive and still demand a lot more tech savvy than the industry would like to admit.

For some consumers, perhaps many, something needs to bridge the gap and give people a taste of what’s possible. I have written that Shapeways and Ponoko are part of that bridge. You can create a 2D or 3D design, upload it to one of these service bureaus, and pay for just one item without the time and effort of buying and configuring a laser cutter, CNC router, or 3D printer. But another company has been building that bridge also: Cricut.

In a recent demonstration of the Cricut Explore, a computer-controlled “design and cut” system, I thought I was looking at a device designed by AppleApple. Elegant and fluid, the company clearly spends a lot of time thinking about the small things that consumers care about, such as, how it feels and sounds. For example, it is so quiet you can barely hear the device as it moves back and forth across material cutting, scoring, or writing.

In the past, I have evaluated a variety of devices and machines that inventors and makers are using to create new products and services. Many of them are large, noisy, and put out fumes you may not want in your house, but this small device sits on your desk and takes up less room than many inkjet printers. There are no fumes.

On the road to making 3D printing more accessible, here are five elements that could help increase the purchase and adoption of 3D printers and that some companies are starting to think about. One demo and a short conversation with Cricut got me thinking about these.

1.Broaden the appeal of the product

The Cricut Explore started for scrapbooking, but is clearly branching out to appeal to home décor, DIY fashion, parties and events. Create trendy content that appeals to a younger demographic. Crafting is no longer limited to grandmas, but millennials, too. 3D printer companies are striving to broaden the appeal.

2. Simplify the user experience by creating intuitive interfaces on both the hardware and software

That Apple feel that I mentioned above? Cricut created a “Smart Set Dial,” which allows users to precisely cut project materials in one easy step – including card stock, vinyl, fabric, iron on materials, cardboard. You don’t have to adjust pressure, depth or speed – the technology handles it all on behalf of the user. Many of the settings on 3D printers and laser cutters are overwhelming. The Cricut dial itself feels “weighty” not plastic-like or cheap. Of course, that’s my personal opinion. Some 3D printers lack this aesthetic.

3. Make the product affordable

Not just the price of the machine or device, but the total cost of ownership over time including the content and all the materials needed. 3D materials are pricey on a per pound basis.

4.Develop communities and marketplaces that connect users

Thingiverse has done an excellent job of this for Makerbot. Instructables is another amazing community (I wrote about them years back, but they are still rocking it). Cricut shares the passion of DIY crafting through its blogger networking, a Design Space marketplace, where users can be inspired by the projects of others, not unlike Etsy or Shapeways storefronts.

5. Make it easy to visualize a project

Starting from scratch is intimidating. Betty Crocker, the cake mix folks, introduced the first mix decades ago and set in motion an easier way to bake. 3D printing needs to think about that, too. Consumers may want to customize, but when you first start out, you want some easy-to-use templates or designs that allow you to experience a bit of success making something.

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